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Wesley Church and Parsonage (former) now Wesley Uniting Church

Location

96 Yarra Street, GEELONG VIC 3220 - Property No 219264

Level

Incl in HO area indiv sig

Statement of Significance

B Listed - Regional Significance

WESLEY CHURCH

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

The Yarra Street Wesleyan Methodist Church congregation was established in 1838 and the first church was erected in 1844-46 to design of noted colonial architect Charles Laing. The original Decorated Gothic church, built of brick, was later in 1859 substantially enlarged. The fabric was cement rendered in 1904. Subsequent alterations between 1859-1930 have obliterated much of the original character . the present church has important association with the foundation of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Geelong and is an interesting church complex which has developed over an extended period.

RECOMMENDATIONS: PROTECTIVE MEASURES

Geelong Regional Commission Register

REFERENCES

Thomas, RH 'Victorian Wesleyan Methodist Churches, Index 1839-1902' Department of Architecture, University of Melbourne, 1970, Text pp.56-57, reference p. 167.

Yarra Street Methodist Church, Centenary Booklet - One Hundred Years of Methodism, 1842-194. Henry Thacker, printer, Geelong 1942.

Blamires, Rev WL and Smith Rev, JB. - The Early History of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Victoria, Griffith and Spaven, Melbourne, 1886 pp. 137-146.

Geelong Advertiser - 14 November 1844, 2 December 1844 (Willingham Index). 15th October 1845, 1 November 1845, 24 December 1845, 16 May 1846, 28 October 1846, 2 February 1847, 15 February 1848, 9 November 1848, 24 July 1849, 3 April 1851, 28 May 1852. 13 January 1853, 10 October 1853, 4 June 1859, 30 June 1859, 29 October 1859, 5 November 1859, 8 October 1883.

News of the week - Geelong 27 September 1906, p.15, photograph of interior, 25th April 1907, p. 13. photograph of exterior.

Wesley Parsonage

B Listed - Regional Significance

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

The parsonage of the Yarra Street Wesleyan Methodist Church was erected in 1890, retaining in the development the original single storey mission house built in 1849. this two storey polychromatic brick residence with timber verandah and steeply pitched slate roof was designed by celebrated Melbourne architect Butler and Usher in the style of the picturesque domestic revival and is an interesting example of the work of this partnership. The residence is set in spacious grounds with notable iron fence and has associations with the adjacent historic church building established in 1846.

RECOMMENDATIONS: PROTECTIVE MEASURES

Geelong Regional Commission Register.

REFERENCES

Thomas, RH - Victorian Wesleyan Methodist Churches, Index 1839-1902, Department of Architecture, University of Melbourne, 1970, text pp 56-57, references, p. 167. Biographics of Walter Butler and Beverly Usser, the architects who were responsible for the design of many churches etc. for the Methodist Church , pp 227-228, 245

Yarra Street Methodist Church - Centenary Booklet, One Hundred Years of Methodism, 1842-1942, Henry Thacker, printer, Geelong, 1942. pp.6, 7.

Geelong Advertiser - 24 July 1849, details including costs of Wesleyan Mission House and Chapel. 28 February 1878, tender for additions and repairs to the parsonage, Yarra Street.

Group

Religion

Category

Church